Illuminated sign



Nov. 18, 1930. I .a. H; BARNES 1,781,677

II'LLUHINATED SIGN Filed April so, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iz'yerzfar inter/29V.

Patented Nov. 18, 1930 ATENT OFFICE GEORGETHJBARNES; oraon nm, ILLINOIS ILLUMINATED siciv.

Application filed April 30,

The invention relates broadly to illuminated signs and'particularly to means adapted for use-in displaying house numbers, or.

the like, to increase the visibility at night.

An objectof the invention is to provide a housing carrying opaque members having character openings therein, and a source of light to make'th'e character openings easily visible atinight when the housing is illuminated. Y

[An object of the means for. yieldinglylsecnring opaque members having {character openings therein against'an opening in ahousing, so that only 1 the character openings will be visiblyilluminated, and which maybe removed therefrom without detaching the housing from its position on a house, store, or wherever it is utilized) Y N P An object of the invention is to provide a device ofthe class described that is efiicient in use, inexpensive of manufactureand that can be installed without the 'aid of a skilled'mechanic. f V 1 With theforegoingand such other objects in view as willappear as the description'proceeds, the invention resides in the combina-'- tion and arrangement "of parts-and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes I in the precise embodiment herein described, maybe made Within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirito'f the invention. In the. drawings ig; l'is an'assembled view of the device showing'the wiring leading to its source of energy through a tran'sformer.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2,2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 viewed from the opposite or inside of the device.

Fig. 4t is a longitudinal section of a view taken on line H of Fig. 3, indicating the overlapping of the opaque members relative to each other.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 55 of Fig. 3 and showing in dotted lines the position that a frame assumes when swung outwardly to remove the opaque members.

invention is to provide 1 1927. Serial m5; 187,890.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view or" a demountable frame. I

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a' longitudinal view taken on line 88 ofFig.7. J I

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig.7.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one form.

of opaque member shown with a character opening therein.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the frame to be used in connection with the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 7.

The housing, preferably made of sheet metal, comprises top wall 11, end walls 12 and 13, and. a bottom wall 14. The outer edges of the top, bottom and side walls being flared outwardly as at 15 to form a flange. provided withapertures for securing the housing in" place, as for instance against a portion of a building as indicated in fragment at-16, by means of screws 17 extending through saidapertures- The front edges ofthe top, end and side walls are bentinwardly, as at 18, to form a front opening- 19, and a plurality of opaque members 21, 22 and 23 are provided to lie. in the casing or housing against the flanges 18 to cover'the opening. These opaque'members are provided with character openings, such as a character of the numeral 1 and so on, indicating-the number of the house, which are disposed within the housing in overlapping engagement with each other, as illustrated at 2 1 to' prevent any light emanating from within the housing outwardly. A transparent or translucent member 25,)such as glass orthe like, is placed against the opaque members as illustrated in Fig. 2 to hold said members against the opening in the housing.

removable frame, as illustrated in Fig. 6, comprising end members 26 and a bottom member 27', has aprojecting flange projecting substantially at ,right'angles from thebot-v tom member 27, the frame being arranged to be inserted within the housing and so disposed that the sidemembers 26 engagethe end edges 01' theftr'ansparent member 25.

' An arcuat'e yielding member'28 is secured to each end of the top wall of the housing,

clo'se to the rear edge, and engages the ends Alight bulb 29 is secured to the top wall of the housing and wiring 30 leading therefrom'to a source of power, and if desired a transformer may be utilized in connection with a high voltage circuit, a switch 31 being provided to close the circuit when it is desired to illuminate the character openings in the sign.

Toremove the opaque members to change from one set of opaque members to another having different character openings, they are pressed inwardly at their lower edge until he frame 32 and spring 28assume the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, in which position the opaque members may be readily pulled out forwardly through the opening 19 provided in the housi'ngforthat purpose, mdnew members inserted after which the frame and associated parts. will be urged back to their former position by the springs.

. The modified form shown in Figures 7, 8,.

9, 10 and 11 is substantially the same as that shown in thelother figures, with the exception that it isnotprovided with yielding meansfor permitting of forcing the frame and opaque members backwardly so that the opaque members may be taken out of place through the opening in the front of the frame.

In this instance, the frame comprises a bot tom section 33 and s1de sect ons 34, all of the same angular cross section. Apertures 35' are provided in the sections 34, allof the same angular cross section. Apertures 35 are providedin the sections 34: arranged to register with similar apertures in the end walls 37 and38 of the housing shown in Fig. 7 tohold the frame secure in place against the transparent and opaque. members. 7

. The opaque member, shown in Fig. 10, has inwardly projecting top and bottom flanges 39 arranged to carry the transparent member 41 therein, and are provided with cutout portions 42 softhat said opaque members may overlap oneanother to provide a housing impervious to light.

Iclaim 1. In a device of the class described, a housing comprising side and front walls having outwardly extending flanges formed integral with the side walls, the front wall having an opening, a transparent member covering said opening, opaque members having characteropenings therein disposed against said trans,- parent member, a removable frame against said transparent member, and yielding means secured to the housing holding said frame against said opaque members.

2. In a device of the class described, a housing having an opening in its front wall, a plurality of slidable opaque members having flanges formed integral and extending from its opposite top and bottom ends, said flanges having a cut-out portion adapting said opaque members to overlapping disposition, a removable frame within and extending along the bottom and side walls of said housing, and springs secured to the housing arranged to engage the side members of the frame. r

8. In, a device of the class described, a

housing having an opening in its front wall,

a plurality of slidable opaque members having flanges formed integral and extending from their top and bottom ends, said flanges having a cut out portion adapting said opaque members to overlapping disposition, a transparent memberarranged to hold said opaque members in place, a removable frame within said housing and contacting with the edges of said transparent member, and springs secured to the housing and arranged to engage theside members of the frame.

a. In a device of the class described, a housing having an opening in its front wall a light bulb in SfllClllOUS1I1gfl plurahty of sl dable opaque members hav ng character openings therein and flanges formed integral and extending from the top and bottom ends thereof arranged to seat against said housing, said flanges having a cut out portion adapting said opaque members to, overlapping interlocking disposition, and a frame within said housing for detachably securing said opaque members in place.

5. In a device of the class described, a housing having an opening in its front wall; a light bulb in said housing; a plurality of slid able opaque members having character openings therein and flanges formed integral and extending from the top and bottom ends thereof arranged to seat against said housing; said flanges having a cut out portion adaptingthe opaque members to overlapping interlocking disposition; a transparent member arranged to hold said opaque members in place; a frame withinsaid housing for detachably holding said transparent member in place.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature at 10 South La Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois GEORGE H. BARNES. 

